Bill Self is walking in unknown territory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this season. Kansas drew the four-seed in the East Region, and while the Jayhawks have faced many non-power conference teams, they have never faced their first-round opponent, Cal Baptist.
Cal Baptist is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance, but that doesn't mean the Jayhawks can count them out. The Lancers are 25-8 on the season and are the Western Atlantic Conference Champions, hence the auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Self doesn't know a lot about the team that the Jayhawks are facing, and Kansas will actually get an extra day of practice prior to its first-round game on Friday instead of Thursday. Cal Baptist will bring everything it has to this matchup, and Self knows he has some homework to do on the team.
"We're studying Cal Baptist, I don't know as much," Self said. "I know they got Dominique, if I am not mistake is averaging about 22 or 23 [points] and he has shot a hundred and eighty-something threes this year."
Bill Self's initial thoughts on No. 4 seed KU's first round draw against Cal Baptist:
— Jason Kinander (@WIBWJason) March 16, 2026
"I actually like that it's on Friday...we could use some practice time." @WIBWsports pic.twitter.com/V23EZnKti9
Dominique Daniels Jr. could be a huge problem for the Jayhawks, who allowed the highest three-point percentage to opponents in the Big 12 this season. Daniels is averaging exactly 23.2 points per game and shooting 32.8% from beyond the arc, and he could have a hay day with the Jayhawks in the first round.
Kansas needs the extra day of practice after Big 12 Tournament exit
The good news about Kansas being out of the Big 12 Tournament early is that they got a few extra days of practice before the NCAA Tournament begins. The Jayhawks drew the game on Friday in the East Region, so that means another day of practice for Bill Self's squad.
Kansas struggled a lot against Houston, the team that ended up knocking them out of the Big 12 Tournament, scoring below 50 points for the first time this season. Self even said it in his press conference that his team needed the extra practice after the showing against the Cougars.
While many believe Kansas won' go far in the NCAA Tournament, it is the perfect time for the Jayhawks to prove everyone wrong, and it all starts with Cal Baptist.